Montana Commissioner of Higher Education seeks to increase attendance at two-year colleges

Only 38 percent of working adults in Montana have at least a two-year college degree.

But because most jobs in the future will require some kind of postsecondary education, more Montanans need to go on to college, said state Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns.

During a visit Thursday with The Billings Gazette’s editorial board, Stearns and Mary Moe, deputy commissioner for two-year education, reported their work to increase college enrollment.

Last year, Montana received a $1.77 million, four-year grant from the Lumina Foundation that is being used to increase attendance at two-year colleges in the state.

One problem has been that the colleges may be one of the state’s best-kept secrets.

MARY PICKETT Of The Gazette Staff

Full Story: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_20cba494-d286-11df-b25a-001cc4c002e0.html